NEWS RELEASE
August 25, 2021

For Immediate Release

SUP WITH LITTER? A GREENER FUTURE HOSTS PADDLEBOARDING CLEANUP ON HUMBER RIVER

• A Greener Future partnered with Thurso Surf and Lake Surfistas to host a paddleboarding clean up event on Friday, August 20, 2021

• 25 volunteers supported the cleanup by picking up 2,241 pieces of litter along the Humber River 

• Plastic bags and cigarette butts were the most common items of litter retrieved from the cleanup

TORONTO, ON – Together with Thurso Surf and Lake Surfistas, A Greener Future hosted a paddleboarding litter cleanup on Humber River in Toronto, Ontario, this past Friday, August 20, 2021. With twenty-five volunteers supporting the cleanup, a total of 2,241 pieces of litter were collected from the water. 

Sponsored by Roxy, the SUP With Litter? cleanup event saw both experienced and inexperienced SUP volunteers paddling down the Humber River to help raise awareness about the pollution in our lakes and rivers while diverting over 186 pounds of garbage out of the water. Plastic bags and cigarette butts were the most common items retrieved, totalling 27 percent of the litter picked up.  

A Greener Future's Founder, Rochelle Byrne, who first began a paddleboarding cleanup journey in July of 2020, becoming the first person to stand up paddle 430KM across Lake Ontario to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the water, says, "It was amazing to see so many passionate volunteers come out to take part in this event. Many of them hadn't tried paddleboarding before attending, so it was cool to introduce them to the sport in a way that also had a positive impact on the environment. I hope the next time they go paddleboarding on their own, it becomes second nature for them to pick up litter they may see."

To continue the momentum, A Greener Future is hosting a month-long Butt Blitz campaign with the hard-hitting goal of picking up 1 million cigarette butts from across Canada throughout this September. 

With cigarette butts being the most littered item globally, the Butt Blitz aims to raise awareness about the issue, offer educational resources, and use data to develop viable solutions to combat the problem. 

To learn more about plastic pollution, local clean-up programs, and ways to support, visit www.agreenerfuture.ca. 

ABOUT A GREENER FUTURE

Founded in 2014, A Greener Future is a non-profit organization whose mission is to work within local communities to promote environmental protection through organized litter cleanups, educational programs, and events. A Greener Future is committed to creating a clean, healthy environment for future generations. To learn more about A Greener Future, visit their website www.agreenerfuture.ca  and see A Greener Future on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT THURSO SURF

Founded in 2021, Thurso Surf is a paddleboard company comprised of young individuals whose mission is to provide the highest quality of paddleboards while striving for the lowest possible price so everyone can experience the thrill of paddling. Their materials, shapes and designs are refined by a high-tech, experiment-driven approach incorporating cutting-edge engineering procedures and modern technologies. To learn more about Thurso Surf, visit www.thursosurf.com.

ABOUT LAKE SURFISTAS

Lake Surfistas is a Canadian grassroots movement that aspires to bring together women of all abilities to celebrate Surf, Standup Paddleboarding (SUP), and SUP SURF on the Great Lakes. In addition, they aim to build competence and confidence in the women that use the Great Lakes for board sports and promote the education of safety, enjoyment, and sustainability of these resources. To learn more about Lake Surfistas, visit www.lakesurfistas.org. 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Rochelle Byrne, Executive Director/Founder
705-791-5358 | rochelle@agreenerfuture.ca

Samantha Brewer, PR Assistant
289-788-6454 | samantha@agreenerfuture.ca